KATHMANDU: Speakers at a programme today urged the government to use locally available herbal medicines and realise free health services for all.

Uma Kanta Chaudhary, Minister for Health and Population said that the government would conduct research about medical resources that are available in the country.

Addressing a programme organised to mark the Rastriya Arogya Diwas, the minister shared that ayurvedic sector had been shadowed. He however, urged the ayurvedic doctors to be responsible towards their duties.

Dr Sudha Sharma, secretary at the ministry appealed all to come up with ideas for developing ayurvedic medicine.

"The ministry would work for developing human resources as well as other related infrastructure" assured the secretary.

Dr Thakur Raj Adhikari, director of Department of Ayurveda said that they had separated 391 centres for distributing free herbal medicines nationwide.

"The government must figure out the importance of herbal medicine in order meet the goal of providing free health service" said Adhikari.

Dr Rishi Ram Koirala, president of Nepal ayurvedic Treatment Association said that the government should treat ayurvedic sector par mainstream of medicine. "Although the herbal medicines are locally available, the resources has not been used fully" said Koirala.

Meanwhile Dr Santosh Kumar Thakur, managing director of Singha Durbar Baidyakhana Development Committee hinted that budget constraints had impeded the implementation of master plan regarding the sustainable development of ayurvedic sector.